Archive for the 'Japan' Category

Sendai is the largest city between Tokyo and Sapporo. Given how much ground that covers, you’d think Sendai would be ridden with tourist traps. Quite the contrary, all the tourist spots in Sendai seemed to be geared towards the locals (i.e., sucking off Date Masamune), while the general-interest attractions lie outside city limits. Thus, I […]

If you want to climb a mountain but don’t feel like chopping wood, fighting bears, or losing your 4G LTE coverage, Fuji is the mountain for you. With over 250,000 climbers during its summer climbing season alone, Fuji is the most climbed and most tourist-friendly mountain in the world (your guess as to which is […]

Passing the Tochigi Driving Test isn’t about driving skillfully or safely. It’s about nothing more or less than playing by the precise set of rules, both written and unwritten, that the examiners set. I certainly don’t know all the rules. This guide merely lists all the rules I was able to pick up on the […]

Nestled in Shibuya across from Wild One (the one that sells sex toys, not camping goods), America’s greatest fast food restaurant made its long-awaited return to Japan. Was it up to snuff? I waited on line for an hour to find out. Taco Bell’s Japanese menu is noticeably different from its American counterpart. Yes, McDonald’s […]

Step 1: Coincidentally walk through Akihabara two weeks before Comiket Not only will this remind you that Comiket exists, it’ll give you an opportunity to buy the Comiket catalog, which is essential if your goal isn’t to wander around cluelessly. Step 2: Book the cheapest hostel/capsule hotel still available Nothing remotely close to Tokyo Big […]

The first time I was in Tokyo, I had just arrived in Japan and quickly left for the countryside without having done much exploring. The second time I was in Tokyo, I went to some crappy, overpriced bars in Shinjuku and Roppongi. This time I went to Tokyo with only one goal: eat non-Japanese food. […]

Kyoto Approximately 70% of Kyoto consists of temples, shrines, castles, and souvenir shops. They’re pretty cool, but if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. I didn’t go to the Geisha district. They’re too family-friendly in this day and age. I didn’t go to the Kyoto International Manga Museum, which is basically a glorified manga […]

I like anime. Japan isn’t anime. Q.E.D. Like most people, I enjoy a good story. Anime has consistently delivered better stories than any other form of entertainment I’ve ever come across. That’s why I’m a fan. There’s nothing uniquely Japanese about it, nor do the brilliant stories that drew me to anime exist in Japan […]